Robert Farley Clark (May 20, 1838[1]–January 30, 1912) was an American banker, political figure, and sportsman who served as chairman of the Boston Police Commission and was the first president of the Boston Athletic Association.
Early life
Clark was born in Boston to Benjamin Cutler and Mary Preston Clark.[2] He attended Boston Public Schools and graduated from Boston Latin School in 1856.[3] During his youth, Clark was a standout rower. In 1857 he was a member of the 6-man Volant crew that was the champion of the Charles River Association and beat the Huron crew made up of Harvard students Samuel B. Parkman, Charles F. Walcott, William H. Elliot, William G. Goldsmith, Alexander Agassiz, and James J. Storrow.[4] After graduating, Clark worked for his father, who was a prominent Boston importer.[3]
Clark was one of the original members of the Boston Athletic Association and was chosen to serve as the organization's first president.[2][5] He did not seek a second term due to business obligations.[2]
Boston police commission
On March 30, 1893, Clark was nominated for a seat on the Boston police commission by Governor William E. Russell. Clark had never sought political office before and was not affiliated with any political party.[3] He was confirmed by the Massachusetts Governor's Council on April 13, 1893, and took office on May 1.[6] He was reappointed by Governor Roger Wolcott in 1898.[7] The following year, Clark was designated chairman of the commission by Governor Wolcott.[8] Clark's two colleagues on the commission (Charles P. Curtis Jr. and Harry F. Adams) designed him the sole spokesman for the board.[9] In 1893, Governor John L. Bates chose not to reappoint Clark and he was succeeded by William H. Emmons.[10]
Personal life
In 1865, Clark married Margarita Jones, daughter of John Coffin Jones Jr. They had one son, Robert J. Clark.[11]
^"The B. A. A.–Conceived By A John B. O'Reilly, Governed by a George B. Morison and Piloted by a George W. Beales–What Club Ever Had a Better Chance?". The Boston Globe. March 9, 1912.
^"Osborne's End". The Boston Globe. April 14, 1893.
^"Reappointment of Com R. F. Clark". The Boston Globe. April 28, 1898.